Curling iron



Patented Jan. 24, 19.28.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY D. GURSKY, 0F GLOVERSVILLE, NEW YORK.

CURLING IRON.

Application filed November 26, 1926. Serial. No. 150,877.

This invention relates to electric hair curlers and has for its principal object the provision of a simple and -efcient curling iron in which the iron is free to rotate with respect to the handle.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an electric hair curler in which the portion .enabling the user to rotate the iron and clamp or tong is relatively very small with respect to the handle proper whereby a hrm and convenient grip may be had on the device as a whole leaving the thumb and forefinger free to turn the rotatable portion.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a specific form of terminals whereby to avoid possibility of sparking due to loose connections.

In ordinary vcurling irons the iron rod containing the resistance element and its tong or clamp are non-rotatably secured in the handle but suggestions have been made that the handle and iron be relatively movable, usually for the purpose of convenient assembly and to prevent the kinking of the lead-in wires with a consequent breaking of the conductors and a chafing and wearing off of the insulation.

In the present device the electrical connection between the lead-in wires and the resistance coil terminals is such as to permit at any and all times an entirely free rotation of the iron and clamp with respect to the handle and particular pains have been taken to minimize the size of the means for rotating the iron with respect to the size of the handle proper, whereby increased convenience and comfort is had by the operator.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in longitudinal section.

Figure 2 is a view of the resistance coil` terminals and y Figure 3 is a view of the lead-in terminals.

The handle 10 in its cheaper form is of wood but naturally this element may be made of any desired material preferably entirely electrically insulating. The heating iron numbered 11 in the drawings carries the usual clamp or tong 12 having a disklike nger piece 13 and held in rm engagement with the iron by its spring 14 which preferably surrounds the pivot pin 15 of the clamp. These parts are old and well known and form no part whatsoever of the present invention save in combination with the novel features later to be described.

A block 17 is secured to the rod or heatmg iron 11 in permanent fashion and is of non-conducting material preferably one of the phenol condensation products now in very common. use. This block carries a central terminal 18 which, if the block 17 be made of wood for example, may simply be an ordinary round headed screw in electrical contactwith one end 19 of the resistance heating element, the other end 2O of which is electrically connected to a terminal 21 which may be a simple element such as 18 but preferably is an indentation in a spring element 22 secured to the block as by the flush screw 23 in actual physical contact with the coil end 20. The knurled disk 25, preferably of heat insulating material, is permanently secured to the heating` iron 11 as for example by being pressed on the rod and this element with the block 17 serves to position the heating iron with respect to the handle allowing only such extremely slight longitudinal movement of the rod 11 as is necessary for perfectly free rotation of the rod and block 17 in the handle.

The main bore in the handle 10 is cylindrical thruout its entire extent and is of such size to receive conveniently and easily the block 17. The block 30 is a short cylinder having on its outer face a circlet 31 of metal such as brass or copper in electrical communication with the lead-in wire marked 32 which wire may be led to the ringl thru a groove 34 on the surface of the block 3() parallel to the axis. The block has a central orifice thru which passes the other leadin wire'37, the orifice being closed at its far end by a preferably metallic contact member 38. The block 30 may be loose in the bore of the handle but I prefer that it should be held against rotation by means of a small set screw 40 engaging a slot 41 in the block opposite the groove 34.

A plug 44, centrally perforated to receive the lead-in wires, is fitted to the free end of the handle to close the bore and is locked in position by means of the set screw 45 and contines a helical spring 48 of sutiicient strength to cause a secure engagement bctween the terminals 18 and 38 and also between the ring 31 and the terminal 21. While I find the terminal 21 can be nonyielding, I prefer in at least some instances that this terminal shall be slightly resilient Cil so las to insure firm contact between the electrical connections in case for example, the terminal 18 should wear down slightly more than a simple form of terminal 21. By providing the spring element 22 firm engagement will be had at all times by virtue of the spring 48.

In using the 'device the handle is taken in the palm of the hand with a convenient and rm grip and after securing an end of hair between the heating iron or rod and the clamp or tong the rod and clamp are revolved to tighten the curl by merely turning the knurled finger disk 25 between the thumb and foreiinger. It is possible in this manner not only to give the hair a tighter curl but the operator has much better control of the iron and this eliminates the possibility of biuning the forehead. As in other irons in which a relative revolving of the iron or handle is possible there is no kinking of the lead-in wires as they are not revolved in use. If desired a knot can be tied in the two leadin wires on the inner side of the block 44 to minimize the chance of pulling the lead wires from the ring 31 or terminal 38.

Vhat I claim is 1. In an electric curling iron, a handle having a plurality of bores therein forming a shoulder, a heating iron swivelled in the smaller bore, a block within the larger bore permanently secured to the iron, and means on the iron side of the handlefor holding said block against the shoulder and for rotating the iron with respect to the handle, and non-rotatable means within the larger. bore of the handle for conveying electric current to the heating iron block.

2.' In an electric curling iron, a handle having a plurality of bores therein forming a shoulder, an electric heating iron swivelly mounted in the smaller bore and having an enlargement engaging the shoulder to prevent withdrawal of the heating iron from the handle in one direction, a disk secured to said heating iron adjacent the handle to limit longitudinal movement of the heating dle and the other of which is mounted for.

sliding movement, two coacting pairs of contacts on the blocks arranged for rotary engagement, a pair of lead-in wires secured to one of said blocks in electric communication with its contacts, a heating iron secured to the other block, and means for resiliently holding said blocks in engagement with one another.

4. In an electric curling iron, a handle, a heating iron rotatably mounted in said handle and held against axial movement in one direction, a disk secured to said iron and in engagement with the iron end of the handle to prevent axial movement of the iron in the other direction, and two pair of coacting electric contacts for conveying the current to the heating iron including two vcontacts in the axis of the handle, a ring Within the handle and non-rotatable with respect thereto, and a member in resilient engagement with said ring.

5.. In an electric curling iron, a hollow handle having two bores therein forming a shoulder, an electric heating iron in the smaller bore, a finger disk secured to said iron adjacent the iron end of the handle, a plug closing the other end of the handle, a pair of cylindrical blocks in the larger bore of the handle, a spring engaging said plug and holding both blocks toward. the sheul' der, means for securing one of said blocks to the heating iron, and two pairs of coacting electrical contacts in rotary engagement for conducting electric current thru the handle to the heating iron. .v

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

. HENRY D. GURsKY. 

